How Bigfoot Kick Made the WeirderKnit: A Better Premium T-Shirt

We didn't set out to make the best Bigfoot shirt. We wanted to make the best t-shirt, period. 

When we started Bigfoot Kick, we sampled pretty much every shirt type you could possibly get your hands on. We pulled on the shirts. We slept in the shirts. We hot-washed the shirts. We dried them in blistering heat. And, like most apparel companies starting out - we settled on a shirt that was produced by a company that allowed for customization. Limited yes, but it allowed for us to create a product that we could sell. There's nothing wrong with this route and plenty of successful and fun companies today are buying Bella Canvas or AS Colour and having their local friends print on them. You probably have bought some shirts in a retail store that, unknown to you, were a blank shirt provided by one of these major global blank giants.

This is perfectly fine for t-shirt or merch companies. 

The problem is that Bigfoot Kick is a fashion brand and we needed to make something that stood out.

We needed a better shirt. We needed a garment that was worthy of the legend that bares our name. 

Building Bigfoot Kick's signature shirt - the WeirderKnit

Like most things in life, quality in, quality out. You can't start with bad ingredients and make a good dish. We believe creating the right garment had to start with 100% combed cotton and with a weight that provides a  good drape. We selected a 240 GSM weight that feels hefty enough when holding it, but won't overly weigh you down, either. It had to span nearly all season (ok, yes in winter we recommend putting on a coat). 

Once we found the perfect cotton and weight, we stepped into the research lab and found a custom 2-step wash process that created a butter soft hand feel with just the right amount of stretch. This was crucial - we didn't want stiff fabric that didn't move with you (queue up Ludacris..."when I move, you move"). We tried different combos and mixes and ultimately settled on what we call the DeconWash, a special custom wash process that softens the garment, adds a luxurious feel, strengthens the knit, and protects against shrinking.

[Side note, no one likes shrinkage.]

While our legal team suggests we can't say "won't ever shrink" or "guaranteed not to shrink"...we can say this really does help prevent your shirt from getting donated to the kid down the block after the first wash. 

And finally, the fit. We wanted a relaxed fit - not too tight and not oversized either. There are plenty of shirts that will stick to your skin or shirts that are enormous...and more power to those. We tried to strike a balance to appeal to a wide range of body types from super-charged athletes to winners of the kettle chip olympics. We don't judge - we just want you to look good when throwing on our gear. 

Put it all together - the fabric, the weight, the wash, and the cut and fit - and we developed our signature WeirderKnit tees. Quite possibly the best blend of soft, durable, and versatile t-shirt on the market. 

Custom brand color neck tape

Once you create the construction, the job is far from done. We wanted to add a pop of color to the interior of the shirt, especially as you look at it hanging in your closet. Most shirts, and definitely most t-shirt brands, overlook this detail. Not only does it add a sense of quality to the garment, it also reinforces the neckline and helps prevent distortion and wrinkling of the neckline over time. Our WeirderKnit tee collection comes with our Bigfoot orange, a signal of both creativity and quality. 

Branded trim 

The finishing touches on the Bigfoot Kick WeirderKnit shirts include a logo hem label sewn into the side-seam with our signature orange in a zig-zag stitch and a HD print canvas woven neck tag. 

We see a lot of shirts today come with a small tag label on the bottom of the shirt, folded and sewn in. A lot of t-shirt companies can do this and most screen printers, large and small, can add this trim. We wanted to take it a step further to really give it a high-end feel that isn't duplicated easily. It's a little detail that helps the consumer know this was expertly crafted vs. a fast fashion tee. Rather than applying the tag to the bottom of a blank, we sew ours in the side seam during construction, with a zig-zag stitch. It brings a nice touch to the garment and says, "we really wanted to handle our logo with care vs. as an afterthought". 

We needed a shirt that could last all day

The need for this shirt originated taking trips overseas, where you'd leave the hotel and go venture out all day long. From coffee shops to museums to concerts to parks and walks along the river, to more shopping and pubs, bars, and nice restaurants in between. 

It was important to have a shirt that A) could stand up to the constant going, walking, sweating, and movement and B) that could easily transition from a park or coffee shop to a museum and then to a nice bar or restaurant. No, we're not suggesting you can walk into a high end Michelin star spot with our t-shirt, although maybe if you threw a blazer over it. But, most casual to nice eateries, bars, and pubs you can walk in and feel fashionable. We wanted to have people see our shirts and say, wow that's a cool shirt. Whoa, wait, is that Bigfoot? Nailed it. 

We were after versatility. And we captured that perfectly in the Bigfoot Kick WeirderKnit tees. Now available in a variety of styles in our store.